The Daughter of Highland Hall (12 page)

Kate pressed her lips together and looked down the path. “It doesn’t seem right that children and young women should suffer so. Perhaps William’s church here in London could take up the cause.”

“I was thinking of bringing the need to my church. They support many foreign missionaries, but there is a great need right here in our own city.”

Kate nodded and her expression eased. “Do you miss your life in India?”

He looked at her, surprised by her shift in the conversation. “In some ways, yes.”

She returned his gaze, genuine interest in her eyes. “What did you like best?”

“Working with my family, especially my father. I’ve learned so much
from him, medically, and about life in general. I miss seeing him and my mother every day and sharing so many experiences together.” He thought for a few more seconds. “And I miss the girls we cared for there. They became like our extended family.”

“Has the work continued since your parents left?”

“Yes. My father insisted nationals be trained to carry on, in case we had to leave, and it’s a good thing he did. The girls are well cared for. Their schooling continues, and nurses at the clinic serve the basic medical needs of those in the village.”

“I’m glad to hear it.” Kate fingered the reins. “I’ve enjoyed the stories Julia told us about your work there. It must have been very rewarding to see the girls who had been rescued growing up safe and happy.”

“Yes.” But that pleasant thought was soon replaced by a painful memory. He clenched his jaw and looked toward the trees. “I’m afraid not all of the girls are safe and happy.”

Kate tipped her head. “What do you mean?”

He shifted his reins to the other hand, debating if he should tell her the story. Would she understand the struggle he still wrestled with even though so much time had passed? He looked across at Kate, and her open expression encouraged him to continue.

“I was just remembering Lalita, one of the girls we rescued from an abusive home when she was twelve. We kept her safely hidden away with us until shortly after she turned sixteen.” His throat tightened, and he looked down.

“What happened then?”

“After her family learned she was living with us, they hired men to break into our compound and take her away one night.”

Kate stared at him, her face growing pale.

“The next morning, after we discovered she’d been taken, my father and I set off to search for her. The local authorities even agreed to help us when we explained the circumstances. Three days later we learned she had been taken to a neighboring village and married off to a wretched man older than her father. Her new husband had a terrible reputation as a thief
and drunkard. Her parents told the authorities they did it to protect her from us and our
heathen
God, but I believe they did it for the money.”

“The money?”

“Yes, a beautiful young girl like Lalita would bring a very high price.”

Kate’s eyes flashed. “That’s terrible!”

“Yes. It is. Her life with him is probably no better than the worst kind of slavery.” He gripped the reins, his throat burning with the injustice of the situation and his powerlessness to do anything about it.

“It’s not right, Jon. Things like that shouldn’t happen.” Conviction filled Kate’s voice.

“No, it shouldn’t, but our hands were tied. They were married. The law was on his side.” He blew out a deep breath, trying to release the guilt and regret pressing down on him.

“What happened to her?”

“I don’t know. They wouldn’t allow us to see her.” He stared down the sandy path, remembering all the times he had prayed and asked God to sustain her through her trials. But was that enough? Should he have done more? His father said they had no recourse. But for a boy of eighteen who cared deeply for Lalita, it had not been enough.

She had trusted him to keep her safe, and he had failed her.

“Kate!”

Jon and Kate reined in their horses and looked to see who was calling to her.

Edward Wellington rode toward them, a young woman on a white horse at his side. He tipped his hat to Kate. “Good morning. What a pleasure to see you again.”

Kate’s pink cheeks signaled her pleasure at the encounter. “Hello, Edward.”

He shifted his gaze to Jon and nodded, though he did not look as happy to see him. “Foster.”

Jon nodded. “Wellington.” He had met Edward at the house the day before, when Edward called on Kate. William and Julia had invited Edward to stay for tea, which had given Jon time to observe him and
determine he was a decent fellow. Nevertheless, he planned to keep his eye on him.

“Have you met my sister, Lady MaryAnn?” Edward made the introductions, then brought his horse around, alongside Kate’s. “Why don’t we join you?”

Jon frowned slightly. “Aren’t you going the other way?”

Edward looked over his shoulder. “We were, but we have to head back in this direction to meet our groom. I’m sure MaryAnn won’t mind.” He glanced at his sister.

“It’s fine with me.” MaryAnn stretched in the saddle. “This is my first time riding in a few weeks, and I am a bit tired already.”

“Very well.” Kate smiled at Edward. “We’d be happy to have you join us.” They rode off together, and Jon and MaryAnn set off after them.

MaryAnn’s gaze followed each male rider who passed by, and she nodded to a few with a self-assured smile. Jon made an attempt at polite conversation, but MaryAnn’s replies were brief, and it was obvious she did not consider him of any interest.

He shifted his attention to Kate and Edward. They seemed to be enjoying a lively conversation comparing riding in Berkshire to riding in Somerset.

Jon gave his head a slight shake. He certainly had nothing to contribute to the conversation. He might as well keep his mind on his own affairs and the decisions he needed to make about his future.

He had enjoyed his first visit to Daystar Clinic. Theo had volunteered to go again on Thursday. Perhaps Jon would join him and make it a regular commitment. The needs there were certainly great.

Kate’s idea of mentioning the clinic to William and Julia was a good one. His sister would definitely be interested in the work being done there, and he hoped William would as well. Perhaps he could arrange for Julia and William to visit the clinic with him and see the conditions on the East End. If they did, he had no doubt they would find a way to help.

Lydia draped Miss Foster’s freshly ironed lavender dress over her arm and left the laundry room. She’d better keep moving. Both Miss Katherine and Miss Foster would need her help dressing for the evening.

Ann walked down the steps, carrying a tray with the remains of the children’s tea. She glanced at the dress in Lydia’s arms. “My, that’s a pretty color.”

“Yes, Miss Foster is wearing it tonight when she goes to the ballet with Miss Katherine and Mr. Wellington.”

Ann’s eyebrows took on a sarcastic slant. “Wouldn’t that be nice?”

Lydia glanced at the dress again with a sense of longing. Little silver beads trimmed the neckline and the royal blue sash. She’d never worn anything this pretty, and she probably never would. Sometimes mistresses passed on dresses they no longer wanted to wear to their maids, but she couldn’t imagine Miss Foster doing that anytime soon. All her dresses were new, made especially for her since she became engaged to Sir William. Miss Katherine’s were mostly all new as well.

Ann leaned closer, a teasing light in her eyes. “Did you see Mr. Wellington when he came calling on Miss Katherine the other day?”

“No. What’s he like?”

Ann’s expression turned dreamy. “Tall, with blond hair and blue eyes and plenty o’ muscles to fill out that suit of his.”

Lydia sighed. “He’s probably rich too.”

“Sure he is.”

“I’m thinking Miss Katherine will have her pick of gentlemen callers this season.”

Ann looked around, then lowered her voice. “I don’t see why we can’t have callers. It’s not fair.”

“Fair or not, that’s the rule.”

“Some rules are meant to be broken.” The stubborn tilt of Ann’s chin sent a warning through Lydia.

“You better not let Mrs. Adams hear you saying that.”

Ann looked up the stairs. “She won’t hear. She’s in the dining room, sorting out the table linens.”

“Well, if you want to hold on to your job, you’ll remember the rules and stick to them.”

Ann huffed. “I won’t be staying in service forever. I want to get married and have a family.”

“So do I, but that’s a long way off for both of us.” Lydia pushed that cherished dream away, deep in her heart. “I had better go up. Miss Foster and Miss Katherine are waiting.”

Ann started toward the kitchen, then looked back. “Say, did you hear any more from your parents about your sister?”

Lydia bit her lip, worry weaving through her thoughts again. “No, not yet.”

“Did you tell them about seeing her at the park?”

Lydia shook her head. “I didn’t want to raise their hopes, especially when I’m not even sure it was Helen.”

“You seemed certain of it that day.”

Lydia replayed the scene in her mind. “It looked like Helen, but it was quite a distance.” She sighed. “Oh, I just wish my parents would write and tell me she’s come home.”

Sympathy filled Ann’s eyes. “Don’t worry. I’m sure you’ll hear something soon.”

Lydia nodded. If only she could believe that were true.

Kate leaned forward in her plush balcony seat in the Wellingtons’ private box and looked down on the main floor at Covent Garden, which her aunt had urged Kate to call by its proper name, the Royal Opera House.

Whatever you called it, it was simply lovely.

Their curtained-off section of the first balcony had a good view of the stage and the audience below. Above were two more balcony levels and a beautiful ceiling decorated with an elaborate gold-and-white, star-shaped design and glowing lights.

Stylish women dressed in exquisite evening gowns and distinguished men in white tie and tails made their way down the aisle to the few
remaining seats. A soft murmur of voices rose from those seated below while everyone waited for the curtain to rise on the Ballet Russes.

Edward leaned toward Kate, and his shoulder touched hers. “I’m glad you were able to join us tonight.” He smiled at her and then shifted his gaze to Julia, who sat on Kate’s left as her chaperone.

Julia smiled. “Thank you, Edward. I’ve never been to a ballet, so this is very special.”

“Yes, thank you for inviting us. It’s quite thrilling.” Kate’s gaze traveled around the hall again.

He laughed softly. “The program hasn’t even begun. Wait until you see the ballet.”

She gently waved her carved ivory fan to cool her warm cheeks. “Just being here and seeing everyone is an experience.”

Edward’s sister, Lady MaryAnn, sat on his right, and his parents, Lord and Lady Wellington, were seated in the row behind them with two of his mother’s friends.

Kate looked across at the boxes on the other side of the great hall and scanned the faces. Had she met any of them at the Gleasons’ garden party? There were a few young faces among the crowd, but most of them seemed to be about the age of Edward’s parents, and none looked familiar. She released a soft sigh and sat back.

An elegant woman wearing a purple gown and a sparkling diamond tiara nestled in the blond hair piled high on her head stepped into the box directly across the hall from the Wellingtons’. A tall man with dark hair and trim moustache followed her in.

Kate pulled in a sharp breath. David Ramsey, William’s younger brother and her second cousin once removed, took a seat next to the woman in purple. He handed the woman a program, and then looked across the hall, his gaze traveling over the crowd.

Kate snapped open her fan and turned her head to the side, shielding her face. She knew David Ramsey lived in London and that she might see him this season—but she hadn’t expected it would be tonight.

Memories of his visit to Highland Hall last December flooded her
mind, and her cheeks burned. He had flirted with her the entire week, and she had been flattered and attentive. Finally one evening, they’d shared a secret kiss in a darkened hallway. She sank lower in her seat, remembering how the thrill of her first kiss had been quickly washed away by guilt, leaving her feeling foolish and ashamed for allowing it. She didn’t truly care for David Ramsey, and she doubted she was more than a passing fancy for him.